The Alabama Big 10 Mayors announced their support for a proposal awaiting the Alabama Legislature to increase the criminal penalties for firing into occupied homes, businesses, vehicles, rail cars, and other buildings from a Class B felony to a Class A felony.
The current proposal, HB174, is currently waiting for a full vote of the Alabama House.
“As mayors, fighting crime and working to keep our communities safe is always our top priority,” said the Alabama Big 10 Mayors. “Too often, we see gun violence resulting in innocent victims, including children. As a state, we should do all we can to hold those responsible accountable.”
The Alabama Big 10 Mayors represent the ten largest cities in the state: Auburn, Birmingham, Decatur, Dothan, Hoover, Huntsville, Madison, Mobile, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa.
“It isn’t the only part of the solution, but increasing penalties for criminals is a key part of curbing gun violence in our communities. Actions have consequences, and the consequences for firing blindly into homes and cars should be met with a strong response from prosecutors and law enforcement.”
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“As mayors, there’s nothing more important to us than public safety, and we know that members of the Legislature feel the same way. We fully support them as they work on this issue to help bring more law and order to communities across our state.”
The legislation, filed by state Rep. Barbara Drummond (D-Mobile), was brought forward in response to multiple gang related shooting across Alabama.
“These senseless murders of innocent people, they’ve got to stop,” Drummond said.
“I am so tired of going to funerals of people who are innocent who happen to be praying in a church, who happen to be laying on their couch in their house, and they are just there, and they are dying by the hands of young people who are actually little thugs that keep re-offending in our community.”
The Alabama Big 10 Mayors includes Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
